Slightly sweet, the blueberry is a dark red to purple fruit that stands out for its richness in vitamins such as vitamin K, trace elements and mineral salts. In fact, this small fruit contains significant amounts of magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc or even vanadium. Derived from the blueberry, a shrub in the Ericaceae family, blueberries are tasty and low in calories. To harvest blueberries, you can learn how to plant the bush at home.

In various sweet preparations such as cakes, muffins or juices, blueberries retain their flavor while offering a series of benefits to the body. Grown for their fruit, blueberries can be grown in the garden or in a large pot placed on the balcony. To be successful in your gardening and grow this fruit tree, here are our tips.

The blueberry: two species to distinguish

There are two species of blueberries:

• Vaccinium    myrtillus   , a wild blueberry that is 20 to 50 cm tall and has evergreen foliage. The latter is generally grown on heaths, moors or in woods and clearings.
• Vaccinium corymbosum   , a 1.5 to 2 meter tall bush blueberry that is easily grown in pots, in garden soil or in the vegetable garden.

Starting in May, clusters of snowdrops appear on the bush.

In summer, the berries appear and ripen for consumption. Some blueberry trees are self-pollinating and you can simply plant them to set fruit.

How to plant blueberries at home?

Blueberries should be planted in sun or partial shade. Additionally, this shrub thrives in very acidic, well-drained, lime-free soil. If your garden is not suitable, you can plant the shrub in a fairly large container and cover the bottom with a layer of clay pebbles or gravel. You will then need to fill the tray with heather potting soil, 1/10 compost or potting soil to ensure the substrate retains as much water as possible. Also, to have a good harvest, try to plant your bushes in autumn to encourage rooting. If you plant them in spring, remember to water them periodically so that they grow optimally.

How to maintain the blueberry tree?

Starting in March, the blueberry bush should receive a special rhododendron fertilizer. It will be necessary to cover the bush with pine bark or pine needles in the fall to preserve the acidity of the soil. When the weather is dry, make sure you water regularly and use non-calcareous water. In winter, remember to remove dead wood without pruning the blueberry. Additionally, blueberries are propagated by cutting, division and layering.

Thanks to these tricks you can plant your own fruit bushes and have fun saving money.